Fulbright Grant Recipient Heads Overseas to Learn Swedish Glassblowing Technique
Serafina Kennedy, a Rutgers-New Brunswick alumna, studied a specific, decorative etching process firsthand in the village of Boda Glasbruk
Rutgers University-New Brunswick graduate Serafina Kennedy sought to learn more about graal, a Swedish glassblowing technique.
Thanks to receiving a grant from the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, the 24-year-old has done just that for about 10 months in Boda Glasbruk, a village in a remote densely forested southern region of Sweden.
Kennedy, a Cinnaminson, N.J., resident who earned a bachelor of fine arts degree in visual arts with concentration in painting from the Mason Gross School of the Arts in December 2023, discusses her Fulbright project, what drew her to the arts and the Swedish custom known as fika.
What brought you to Rutgers?
I was impressed by the faculty at Mason Gross. While touring Rutgers, I could see how dedicated each professor was to their students and their deep knowledge of their respective craft.
I also liked that Mason Gross was an art school within a larger university. I was able to seek out resources and opportunities within different departments at Rutgers. This allowed me to pursue a minor in cultural anthropology. Taking studio courses at Mason Gross and anthropology classes through Rutgers’ School of Arts and Sciences as an undergraduate inspired me to explore artistic opportunities abroad.
This coursework ultimately motivated me to pursue a Fulbright grant in Sweden.
What drew you to your field of study?
I have been passionate about drawing and painting since childhood. From an early age, I have had my mind set on pursuing a career in the arts.
Mason Gross does not have a glassblowing department, so after graduation, I began taking glassblowing lessons with Jim Loewer, a glassblower working in Philadelphia. I was always interested in glassblowing growing up, so I was excited to take these classes with Jim.
Shortly after, I started working as his part-time assistant and was able to blow glass more frequently.
What did your Fulbright project entail?
I worked with The Glass Factory located in Boda Glasbruk to learn graal, a Swedish glassblowing technique. It’s a decorative etching process. First, images or patterns are carved into an initial piece of glass and then reheated and encased in another layer of glass. The method of etching and layering allows for graal pieces to achieve both depth and intricate patterning.
I often created landscape ink drawings using a series of intricate marks to depict the forms within my compositions.
I am interested in the similarities between glass etching and calligraphy ink drawing. At the end of my Fulbright residency, I exhibited the graal works that I created at the Glass Factory alongside the landscape drawings I made inspired by the Swedish landscapes around me.
My goal for the exhibition was to capture the spirit of allemansrätten, Sweden’s public right to access certain public or privately owned lands, lakes and rivers for recreation and exercise, through landscape depictions and nature motifs, while comparing the similarities between ink drawing and graal.
What have you gained from your study-abroad experience?
The most meaningful aspect of this experience has been the relationships I have built with other artists from around the world.
These connections have truly embodied the Fulbright mission of cultural exchange. My friends have taught me so much about their diverse cultures and backgrounds and have also played a big role in helping me grow as an artist.
How do you plan to apply what you’ve learned moving forward?
The Glass Factory collaborates with many established artists, and I have had the opportunity to work alongside them. Seeing how they approach their work and careers has given me a lot of ideas and guidance for shaping my path as an artist.
I am also eager to share my Fulbright experience with other recent graduates and artists early in their careers. Pursuing a Fulbright is a great opportunity for research and artistic exploration. I hope sharing my knowledge with others will encourage them to look into the program.
What are your plans going forward?
I will be exhibiting the graal works and drawings I created in Sweden early next year. In the meantime, I'm applying to art residency programs in the U.S. for this summer and looking into master of fine arts programs to apply to for next year.
How do you spend your free time?
Fika! The Swedish custom of fika is a coffee break taken with coworkers or friends. Fika typically includes a Swedish bakery item like cinnamon buns or chocolate balls. The break allows people to slow down and enjoy time with others.
Undergraduate and graduate students interested in applying for a Fulbright grant may contact the Rutgers-New Brunswick Office of Distinguished Fellowships or the School of Graduate Studies, respectively.
